After dating for over a year, Zach Bryan announced his breakup with Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia on Instagram on October 22. This announcement not only shocked their fans but also caught Brianna off guard, as she revealed in her YouTube video. She expressed that she felt completely “blindsided” and had “no idea” he would post a statement, noting that he hadn’t informed her beforehand.
Who’s who?
Zach Bryan, a 28-year-old Grammy-winning American country music singer-songwriter from Oklahoma, is well-known for hit songs like “Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything.” After self-releasing several albums, he made his major label debut with the acclaimed American Heartbreak in 2022.
On the other hand, Brianna LaPaglia, popularly known as Brianna “Chickenfry,” is a 25-year-old influencer and podcaster at Barstool Sports. She co-hosts the BFFs podcast alongside Barstool founder Dave Portnoy.
The Love Story
Zach and Brianna first met at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11, 2023. Shortly after, Zach announced his breakup with his previous partner. The two crossed paths again at a concert in June, which Brianna co-hosted with another Barstool personality. Although they didn’t talk much that night, Zach later reached out to her via DMs.
Within a month, they officially began dating, a fact Brianna confirmed in July during one of her podcasts. Zach made his red carpet debut at the 2024 Grammys with Brianna, and they posed together for photos.
The Breakup Bombshell
Unexpectedly, Zach Bryan took to Instagram on October 22 to announce his breakup with Brianna, citing a “personal struggle.” He shared a heartfelt note, expressing his emotions: “Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with (each other) and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time, and for that, I’ll always thank her.”
Heartbroken Brianna
In her October 22 YouTube video titled “Love you guys, I’ll be back soon,” Brianna revealed that the breakup occurred on October 21. She was not expecting Zach to go public, which left her feeling “blindsided.” She shared that she woke up to an Instagram post and received numerous messages asking, “Are you okay?”
LaPaglia confessed she had been “crying for like five days” . She tearfully questioned, “How can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, through things you shouldn’t… How can you give every ounce of yourself to someone and be discarded in just a few days?”
Is Raya the cuplrit?
Speculation arose regarding Zach Bryan’s presence on the Raya dating app while he was in a relationship with Brianna “Chickenfry.” This lead to allegations of infidelity against him. Although he has denied these claims, asserting that the breakup was beneficial for both. Brianna has chosen not to share further details, stating that she wants to “heal privately.”
